AR Awards for Emerging Architecture |
Commended | December 2007 | ||
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DAVID JAMESON ARCHITECT |
House renovation |
Eastern Market, Washington DC, USA |
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| In Europe, we wouldn’t naturally turn to the US for inspiration when considering how to add small additions to optimise the quality of existing domestic properties. With residential settlements rarely reaching the sort of densities of say London or Paris, the stereotypical image of the American home is of isolated detached single-storey chalets, set in the middle of generous plots with large front and rear gardens. As such the location of this property stumped the jury. With no clues in their award entry, with no written descriptions or context information, where was this property? The proportions of the brick apertures didn’t look anything like a typical Georgian or Edwardian townhouse found in the UK. The conjecture was inconclusive. Despite this, however, the drawings and photographs demonstrated a level of sophistication and subtlety that deserved recognition. Evoking the image of an illuminated Japanese lantern, the glass and steel volume is anchored onto an existing two-storey brick terrace. More of a new bay window than a full extension, the new enclosure replaces the masonry corner seen on neighbouring properties with a lighter self-supporting steel frame that cantilevers out of the masonry by approximately 250mm. The steel frame not only frames acid etched panels, but also modulates both elevations inside and out, creating useful shelves for the luminous interiors. The contrast between light and heavy is well balanced, and on occasion the translucent glass panels are substituted with clear units that selectively frame views of the sky and trees to the rear. R. G. Architect David Jameson Architect, Inc Project team David Jameson, Christopher Cabacar Photographs Anice Hoachlander contact@davidjamesonarchitect.com |
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